With The First Pick
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Redskins: 3 challenges Chase Young faces in rookie season

By Timothy Rodriguez

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs past Tremayne Anchrum #73 of the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs past Tremayne Anchrum #73 of the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 08: Jimmy Graham #80 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the football against Landon Collins #20 of the Washington Redskins at Lambeau Field on December 08, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 08: Jimmy Graham #80 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the football against Landon Collins #20 of the Washington Redskins at Lambeau Field on December 08, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Unknown secondary

Ron Rivera’s Washington Redskins prioritized their defense in the 2020 off-season. Their two most important acquisitions were Young and Kendall Fuller, a very good corner coming to the nation’s capital for his second stint with the team. Washington was also able to add Ronald Darby, a talented but injury prone cornerback, from the division rival Philadelphia Eagles.

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A pass rusher’s best friend is a good secondary. The longer the defensive backs can make the quarterback hold onto the ball, the more time pass rushers have to get home. For the Redskins, their defensive backs have loads of promise, but are relatively unknown. The only players that can be consistently counted upon are Landon Collins, a box safety, and Fuller, a corner who plays best in the slot.

Darby was a nice pickup for defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s defensive backfield, but he cannot be relied upon at all. In his five NFL seasons in Buffalo and Philadelphia, Darby has never played a full season. Darby has missed 20 regular season games since he arrived in Philadelphia prior to the 2017 season.

Washington has some solid but unspectacular veterans in Sean Davis, Fabian Moreau and Aaron Colvin. Greg Stroman and Jimmy Moreland provide some intriguing young players. However, as currently constructed, the Redskins secondary could struggle if Darby gets injured and Fuller is the only viable corner. If this happens, Young will have considerably less opportunities to apply pressure on the quarterback.

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